Machine for making twine.



L. J. MUNAH AN & C. KIEHEN. MACHINE FOR MAKING TWINE.

(Application filed Nov. 28, 1900,)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l-.

TH: NORRIS PETERS ca, INOTO-LITHQ, WASHWGTON. u. c.

Patented Dec. I0, 1901.. L. J. MONAHAN &. C. KIEREN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TWINE.

(Application filed Nov. 28, 1900-) '3 Sheets-Sheat 2.

(No Model.)

m: NORRIS mans co. PNOYD-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. o c.

Patented Dec. I0, l90l. L. J.,MONAHAN & C. KIEREN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TWINE.

(Application filed Nov. 28, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

In: uowms PETERS cc. FHOTO-LITHOH msumaron, u. c,

NrrE STATES LOUIS J: MONAHAN, OF OSHKOSH, AND CONRAD KIEREN, OF APPLETON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO EMIL H. STEIGER, OF FRE- MONT, WVISCONSIN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TWINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,789, dated December 10, 1901. Application filed November 28, 1900. Serial No. 37,963. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, LOUIS J. MONAHAN, of Oshkosh, in the county of Winnebago, and CONRAD KIEREN, of Appleton, in the county of Outagamie, State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Making Twine, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which area part of this specification.

Ourinvention has relation to improvements in machines for making twine, more particularly, although not necessarily, to twine composed of lengths of grass.

A primary object of our invention is to provide an improved construction in the class of machines described for imparting such a back-and-forth movement to the nippers that one nipper of the series always follows a previous one, thereby causing a constant flow of the material through the machine.

A further object is to provide for a movement forward of each nipper at a constant slow speed, while the return movement is very rapid, whereby the number of nippers required for successful work is reduced to the minimum.

A further object is to provide for imparting to the nippers a combined back-and-forth and up-and-down movement.

A further object is to provide for imparting to the nipper-carrying devices a curvilinear back-and-forth motion.

A further object is to provide for imparting to the nipper-carrying devices a back-andforth motion and to the nippers carried thereby a substantially elliptical motion.

A further object is to provide for imparting to the nippercarrying devices a combined curvilinear back-and-forth motion and an upand-down motion.

A further object is to provide in a machine of the class described a means for compressing the lengths of the materials together preparatory to the wrapping operation instead of twisting the said lengths together, as has heretofore been customary.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view the invention consists of the devices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete device, parts in section. Fig. 2 is a plan View. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the nipper devices and the mechanism for operating the same. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the nippers and the mechanism for closing the same, the former, however, showing the position of the nippers when opened and the latter view showing the position of said nippers when closed; and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the feeding mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 7 indicates the bed of the machine, which is supported by suitable uprights 8, extending upwardly from afloor 9. Extending upwardly.

from the forward end of the base are uprights 1O 10, and in these uprights is mounted a fixed shaft 11. A series of arms 12 are mounted on this shaft, and these arms are preferably pro-, vided at their upper ends with antifrictionrollers 13. Each arm is adapted to Work between two contact-rods 14 lt,extending across from one upright 10 to the other, the rod it being preferably on a higher plane than the rod 14..

The numeral 15 indicates a series of movable nipper-carryingarms. Anydesirednumher of these arms may be employed, and we herein illustrate four. Any desired mechanism forimparting alternating back and forth movements to the nipper-carrying arms may be provided; but we prefer to employ the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings and which will now be explained. From the floor 9 in advance of the forward end of the bed of the machine extend upwardly two uprights 16 16, in which are mounted the ends of a transverse shaft 17. This shaft has mounted thereon a series of double cams 18, said cams being of the shape clearly shown in the accompanying drawings, and which shape is such that the nipper-carrying arms are moved forward with a constant speed and return very quickly. By this arrangement a minimum number of nipper-carrying arms may be employed and suc cessful work accomplished. The forward ends of the nipper-carrying arms are connected to the upper ends of the upper arms of bell-crank levers 19, said levers being mounted on a shaft 20. The lower arms of these bell-crank levers have weights 21 adjustably mounted thereon, which weights are for the purpose of bringing-back the nippercarrying arms after said arms have been moved forwardly. While we prefer to employ the lower arms to the bellcrank levers and the weights 21, mounted on said arms, yet we do not wish to be understood as restricting ourselves thereto, inasmuch as any other suitable device for causing a return movement of-the levers 19 may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

The upper arms of the bell-crank levers 19 are provided with projecting fingers 22, which carry at their extremities antifriction-rollers 23,- against which the cams 18 act, and thereby etfect the back-and-forth movement of the nipper-carrying arms. By reason of the pivotal connection of the nipper-carrying arms to the upper ends of the levers 19 and the mounting of said levers on the fixed pivotrod 20 the nipper-carrying arms are when moved back and forth caused to move in a curvilinear line. This curvilinear motion, however, is not absolutely essential, but is only incidental to the particular form of mechanism shown for imparting the back-and forth motion to the nipper-carrying arms.

The shaft 17 may be driven in any suitable unanner; but we prefer to mount upon one end thereof a sprocket-wheel 24, which wheel is connected to anothersprocket-wheel on a line-shaft 26 by means of a sprocket-chain 27.

For raising and lowering the nipper-carrying arms we mount adjustably on each of said arms two lugs 28 and 29, respectively. As a nipper-carrying arm is moved toward the rear of the machine the forward lug 28 will contact with the antifriction-roller 13 of one of the arms 12and turn said arm to the limit permitted by its contact with the stop-rod 14:, which is located slightly past the center of gravity, the-position of said arm in contact with the rod 14: being indicated clearly by dot-ted lines in Fig. v This 'will of course have the effect of raising the nipper carrying arm to the dotted-line position also shown in Fig. 3. The nipper-carrying arm remains in this position until on the return movement of said arm the other lug 29 contacts with the antifriction-roller 13, when of. course the arm 12 will be swung over until it contacts with the other stop-rod let, and consequently the nipper-carrying arm is again forced downwardly. In this manner all the nipper-carrying arms on their reciprocation are raised and lowered.

The feeding mechanism for the material may be of any desirable construction; but we prefer to employ the arrangement herein illustrated, which consists of two endless aprons arranged one above the other and extending transversely across the base. These aprons are provided with suitable projections for insuring the carrying along of the material, and the upper apron 30 passes around the rolls 31 31, and the lower apron 32 passes around similar rolls 33 33. These aprons may be driven in any desirable manner. We herein show a sprocket-wheel 34 mounted on the axis of the upper roll, and this wheel is connected up to the line-shaft by means of a sprocket-chain 35 passing around a sprocket-wheel 36 on said line-shaft. The rotation of the axis of the upper roll is imparted to the lower roll by means of a sprocket-chain 37'passing around a sprocket-Wheel 38 on the axis of the upper roll and around a similar sprocket-wheel 39 on the axis of the lower roll.

The material is placed in an inclined trough 40, extending laterally from one side of the bed, and which trough leads to the space between the two aprons 30 and 32. Extending laterally from the opposite side of the bed 7 is a table 41,which receives the material which is passed between the aprons and has not been picked up by the nippers.

The nippers are indicated by the numeral 42, and each nipper consists of two flexible or spring arms secured at their upper ends to opposite side edges of the nipper-carrying arms and depending downwardly therefrom. The lower ends of these nippers are brought together, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in order to form gripping-jaws, and one of these jaws is provided with a laterally-projecting lug 43, the end of said lug adapted to fit in an opening or recess in the other jaw. This lug is so spaced from the ends of the jaws as to provide a space only sufficient to admit one or two lengths of the material to pass between the jaws at a time. Suitable mechanism should be provided for causing the jaws to close and grip a length of the material. \Ve prefer to employ for this purpose sets of upwardly-extending arms 44 44. for each nipper, said arms being suitably spaced apart and preferably provided at their upper ends with heads or enlargements 4:5 45, having inclined sides which are adapted to engage with the inwardly-inclined portions of each nipper, which inclined portions are located just above the gripping-jaws. When a nipper-carrying arm is raised, the jaws will be in the position shown in Fig. 4. When, however, a nipper-carrying arm is lowered, the jaws will pass between the heads or enlargements and will be brought toward each other by the engagement of the inclined surfaces, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

The dotted line in Fig. 3 shows the path of movement of the gripping-jaws, and it will be seen from this line that said jaws describe a path somewhat in the form of an irregular oblong or ellipse. It will also be seen by the several dotted-line positions of the nippercarrying arms and nippers that when a nipper is at the limit of its forward stroke it is in a raised position. When it is on its return stroke, however, the act-ion of the lug 29 on the arm 12, as previously explained, will cause the nipper-carrying arm, and con sequently the nipper, to gradually lower, the said nipper reaching the lowest limit of its movement downwardly at the time the nipper-carrying arm completes its full return stroke. When the jaws have thus descended to their full extent, they grasp a length of the material, which is carried transversely between the endless aprons, and then on the next forward stroke of the nipper-carrying arm said arm conveys the length of material such a distance that the advancing end of the length of the material will be carried between rolls 46 46, the jaws of course opening after they are raised sufficiently high to release them from the action of the inclined heads or enlargements 45, and thereby permitting the rolls to freely pull the lengths of the material therebet-Ween. The rolls are advisably provided with longitudinal ribs or projections in order to firmly grasp the lengths of material, said projections preferably consisting of rubber strips extending the entire length of the rolls. It will be understood that the action of the double cams is such that one nipper-carrying arm continues following the previous one, thereby making a constant flow of the material to the rolls. These rolls 46 may be driven in any desirable manner. Weshowforthe purposeasprocket- Whee147 on the line-shaft, said wheel having a sprocket-chain 4S therearound and extending downwardly to and around a sprocketwheel 49 on one of the extended ends of the axis of the upper roll. Upon the opposite extended end of the axis of the upper roll is mounted another sprocket-wheel 50, and this wheel is connected to a similar wheel 51 on the corresponding end of the axis of the lower roll by means of a sprocket-chain 52.

In advance of the rolls 46 is carrying mechanism preferably consisting of an endless belt 53, said belt passing around rolls 54 54, the axesof said rolls being journaled in the upper ends of standards 55 55. One end of the axis of the forward roll 54 is extended, and

on this extended end is mounted a sprocket wheel 56, said wheel being connected to another sprocket-wheel 57 on the axis of the lower roll 46 by means of a sprocket-chain 58, whereby the rotation of said upper roll 46 causes a movement of the belt 53.

Arranged above the belt 53 and suitably secured to the framework and having their lower edges almost in contact withsaid belt are boards 59 59,- said boards converging toward the forward end of the belt, so as to form a gradually-narrowing passage to a funnel 60. The converging boards tend to bring the several lengths of the material together before they reach the funnel 60. At the rear end of the funnel are located the compressionrolls 61 61, arranged between standards 62 62. The journals of these rolls are carried in bearwith a hook.

ing-boxes arranged in elongated slots 63 in the standards. Coiled springs 64 press against the bearing-boxes of the upper compression- 7 roll. Set-screws 65 65 turn through threaded openings in the upper ends of the standards and bear against plates 66, which plates act against the upper ends of the coiled springs. By turning the screws it is evident that the tension of the springs may be readilyregw lated and the upper compression-roll thereby made to press downwardly with greater or less force.

Suitable mechanism should be provided for wrapping a thread or cord around the lengths of the material as said lengths are fed from between the compression-rolls. We showa desirable form of mechanism for this purpose, said mechanism located just in advance of the compression-roll. Referring to this mechanism, the numeral 67indicates a thread-carrying shaft, which is mounted in a suitable upwardly-extending bearing. This shaft carries a pulley 68, around which a belt 69 is adapted to be passed. Said belt extends upwardly to and around another and larger pulley 70 on the line-shaft. A spool of thread 71 is fitted on the shaft 67, said spool bearing at one end against an annular shoulder 72, formed on the shaft and having a nut 73 turning against its opposite end.

The numeral 74 indicates a tension-carrying shaft which extends through the shaft 67, its opposite ends projecting beyond the ends of said shaft 67. On one projecting end is mounted a pulley 75, around which a belt 76 is adapted to be passed, said belt extending upwardly and around a pulley77, mounted on the line-shaft. The other projecting end of the shaft 74 carries a tension 78, which tension is advisably inthe form of a split collar which may be slipped onto the shaft or screwed fast to the shaft, as the case may require, as it is desirable to run the tension without slipping when possible. This object is accomplished by driving the tension-carrying shaft 74 slower than the thread-carrying shaft 67. Extending from the tension-collar 78 is a spring-arm 79, formed at its free end The thread from the spool 71 is made. to engage this hook and is then extended to position for being wrapped around the compressed lengths of the material.

In order to remove the spool 71 when necessary to replace it with a new spool, we provide an adjustment of the standard which forms the bearing for the thread-carrying shaft 67. This standard is normally held by means of a pin 80. In order to adjust the standard farther away from the compression-rolls, so as to provide room for removing the spool 71, a pivoted lever 81 is manipulated. This manipulation after the pinSO has been removed, as aforesaid, will cause the standard and parts carried thereby to be slid along on the base 82. The spool can then be removed and a new one substituted. The lever 81 is then manipulated in the opever this set-screw is loosened, the plate 83,

and consequently the standard which forms a bearing for the shaft 67, can be moved toward the com pression-rolls,together with said shaft 67 and the other parts. After the required adjustment is obtained the screw 85 is again tightened.

After the twine leaves the wrapping mechanism it is carried between two draw-rolls. The lower of these draw-rolls is indicated by .the numeral 86 and is mounted on an axis extending from an upwardly projecting standard 87. The upper draw-roll is indicated by the numeral 88. Extending rearwardly from the standard 87 and at an upward incline is an arm 89. To this arm is pivoted a bell-crank lever 90. The lower arm of the bell-crank lever is engaged by a setscrew 91, and the end of this set-screw is connected to the end of a coiled spring 92, the opposite end of said coiled spring bearing against the standard 87. The upper arm of the bellcrank lever carries the axis of the upper roll 88. The coiled spring acts normally to thrust the lower arm of the bellcrank lever outwardly, and consequently throws the upper arm of said lever downwardly, so as to hold the upper roll yieldingly against the lower roll,and the downward pressure of the upper roll may be regulated by the set-screw 91. The lower roll is positively rotated by mounting on the axis thereof a pulley 93, said pulley having a belt 94 passing therearound and extending upwardly and around another pulley 95, mounted on the line-shaft.

In the operation of our invention rotation of course is first imparted to the line-shaft in order to give motion to the several rotatable portions of the machine. The lengths of the material (which in the case grass twine is being made consists of lengths of grass) are placed in the inclined trough 40 by the operator and slide down into the space between the feeding-aprons 30 and 32. By these aprons the said lengths of material are conveyed in a transverse direction across the machine, and by the operation of the nippers, hereinbefore fully described, a length or lengths of the material is or are grasped by the jaws of each nipper, and thereby forced forwardly between the carrying-rolls 46 46. These rolls force the lengths of the material onto the carrying-belt 53, the said lengths being brought together by the boards 59 before entering the funnel 60, which funnel fur ther brings the lengths closer together. From the funnel the lengths pass between com pression-rolls 61, where they are firmly pressed together, but not twisted. From between the compression-rolls the compressed material passes into the tubular tension-shaft 74, and by reason of the rotation of the spool-carrying shaft the twine is wrapped firmly around the material, the said material being finally pulled out by the draw-rolls 86 and 88, after which it is wound upon suitable spools. The twine, with the cord wrapped therearound, is designated in the drawings by the numeral 96.

We prefer to employ the compression-rolls 61 61 in connection with our invention, so

that the lengths of the material are firmly of the thread-carrying shaft 67 continues the winding of the thread throughout'the further operation of the machine, the winding of the thread around the compressed lengths of the material holding said lengths together.

The spring 79, carried by the tension, compensates for any slight jerks that may occur, and this prevents the thread from breaking.

It will be understood that the shaft 74 is driven in the same direction as the shaft 67; but in order to obviate the necessity of the tension slipping, as has heretofore been found necessary in order to wind the thread on the twine, we prefer to drive the tension-carrying shaft 74: at a slower rate of speed than the thread-carrying shaft 67.

While we have herein shown and described certain details of construction, yet we do not wish to be understood as specifically limiting ourselves thereto, inasmuch as variations and modifications may be resorted to for accomplishingsimilar functions without departing from the broadspirit and scope of our inventlOIl.

What we claim as our invention is- 1. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of nippers, a separate carrying device for each set of nippers, and means for independently moving each-nipper-carrying device, whereby the set of nippers thereof is caused to extend into the material and move a portion thereof.

2. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of nippers, a separate carrying device for each set of nippers, and means for independently imparting to said nipper-carrying devices alternate back and forth movements, whereby the sets of nippers thereof are caused to extend into the material and move a portion thereof.

3. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feeding device adapted to move and carry the material to the machine, a series of nippers, a separate carrying device for each set of nippers, and means for independently moving each nipper-carrying device in a direction lengthwise of the material, whereby the set of nippers of each carrying device is caused to extend into the material and move a portion thereof.

4. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of carryingdevices each provided at one end with nippers adapted to extend into the material and move a portion thereof, and means for imparting to the carrying devices a back-and-forth movement, and also an upand-down movement transversely of the plane of said back-and-forth movement.

5. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of nippers, a separate carrying device for each set of nippers, and means for independently moving each nipper-carrying device, so as to cause one nipper-carrying device to follow the movementof the other, the nippers of each nipper-carrying device onthe forward stroke engaging the material and moving a portion thereof.

6. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of devices, each provided with nippers, and means acting on the nipper devices to cause each nipper device to move forward with a constant slow speed and return at a very rapid speed, the nippers of each nipper device on the forward stroke extending into the material and moving a portion thereof.

7. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of devices each provided with nippers, levers pivoted to the ends of nipper devices, and rotatable cams acting against said levers in order to impart back-and-forth motion to the nipper devices, the nippers of each nipper device on the forward stroke extending into thematerial and movingaportion thereof.

8. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of devices each provided with nippers, levers pivoted to the ends of nipper devices, and rotatable double cams acting against said lovers in order to impart back-and-forth motions to the nipper devices.

9. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of devices each provided with nippers, levers pivoted to the ends of the nipper devices, rotatable cams acting against said levers in order to impart back-and-forth motion to the nipper devices, the nippers of each nipper device on the forward stroke extending into the material and moving a portion thereof, and means for causing a return, stroke of the nippers.

10. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of devices each provided with nippers, bell-crank levers having their upper arms pivoted to the nipper devices, means acting against said levers to cause a forward movement of the nipper devices, and means acting on the lower arms of the bell-crank levers and adapted to cause a return stroke of the nipper devices.

11. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of devices each provided with nippers, bell-cranklevers having their upper arms pivoted to the nipper devices, means acting against said levers to cause a forward movement of the nipper devices, and adjustable weights mounted on the lower arms of the.

bell-crank levers and adapted to cause a return stroke of the nipper devices.

12. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of devices each provided with nippers, levers pivoted to the ends of nipper devices, said levers provided with projecting fingers carrying antifriction -rollers, and rotatable cams acting against the rollers and adapted to impart back-and-forth motion to the nipper devices, the nippers of each nipper device on the forward stroke extending into the ma terial and moving a portion thereof.

13. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of nippers, a separate carrying device for each set of nippers, means for giving each separate nipper-carrying device an independent back-and-forth motion, whereby the set of nippers carried by each nipper-carrying device on the forward stroke of said device is caused to extend into'the material and move a portion thereof, and means for causing each nipper-carrying device to rise upon the completion of its forward stroke, and the nippers to open and release the material, and for causing said ni ppers to descend upon the completion of their return stroke, and the nippers to close upon one or more lengths of the material. i

14. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of back and forth movable devices, each provided with nippers, the nippers on the forward movement of each nipper device extending into the material and moving aportion thereof, lugs arranged on each nipper device at certain distances apart, rocking arms adapted to be contacted with by the lugs and thereby thrown from one position to another, stops for limiting the extent to which the arms may be thrown, the contact of one of the lugs with an arm, on the forward movement of a nipper device, causing said arm to be thrown forwardly and the nipper device to be thereby raised, and the contact of the other lug with an arm, onthe return movement of a nipper device, causing said nipper device to lower and the nippers thereof to grasp a length or lengths of the material, and means, when the nipper devices are raised, for opening the nippers and releasing the length or lengths of the material.

15. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a

series of back and forth movable devices,each provided at one end with nippers, the nippers on the forward movement of each nipper device extending into the material and moving a portion thereof, lugs adjust-ably arranged on each nipper device, and spaced a suitable distance apart, rocking arms adapted to be contacted with by the lugs and thereby be thrown from one position to another,

stops for limiting the extent to which the arms may be thrown, the contact of one of the lugs with the arm, on the forward movement of a nipper device, causing said arm to be thrown forwardly and the nipper device to be thereby raised, and the contact of the other lug with the arm, on the return movement of a nipper device, causing said nipper device to lower and the nippers'thereof to grasp a length or lengths of the material, and means, when the nipper'devices are raised, for opening the nippers and releasing the length or lengths of the material.

16. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of nippers, a separate carrying device for each set of nippers, means for independently moving each carrying device and thereby causing the same at the beginning of its movement, to extend into the material in position to engage the same, means for causing the normally open nippers at the beginning of their movement to close upon the material and thereby grasp a length or lengths thereof and move said length or lengths, and means for opening the nippers upon the completion of their movement in one direction in order to release a length or lengths of the material.

17. Inamachinefor makingtwine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of nippers, a separate carrying device for each set of nippers, and means for independentlyimparting to each nipper-carrying device a back-and-forth movement, and to the nippers carried thereby a substantially elliptical movement.

18. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of nippers, a separate nipper-carrying device for each set of nippers, and means for independently imparting to each nipper-carrying device a curvilinear back-and-forth motion.

19. Inamachine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, devices, each provided at one end with depending nippers, said nippers consisting of two spring-arms adapted to extend into the material and grasp a length or lengths thereof, the lower extremities of said spring-arms forming grasping-jaws, and portions of said arms just above the jaws being inclined inwardly toward each other, means for imparting backand-forth movement to the nipper devices,

parallel rails between which the spring-arms pass, said rails having their inner surfaces beveled, which bevels act on the inclined surfaces of the spring-arms and cause a closing of the nippers on the forward stroke of the nipper devices, but permit said nippers to open-'upon the completion of said stroke in order to release the length or lengths of the material, and the beveled surfaces of said rails again acting on the inclined surfaces of the spring-arms at or before the completion of the return stroke of thenipper devices, in order to close the nippers and thereby adapt said nippers to grasp a length or lengths of the material.

20. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a series of normally opened nippers, a separate carrying device for each set of nippers, means for independently imparting to each nippercarrying device a combined back-and-forth and np-and-down movement, and closing mechanism adapted to act on the nippers and close the same on the down movement of said nippers, while the upper movement of the nippers releases the same from the closing mechanism and permits said nippers to open again.

21. In a machine for making twine, the combination, of a feed-holder for the material, nipper-carrying devices, the nippers carried by each device consisting of spring-arms depending from the nipper devices, and said nippers adapted to extend into the material and grasp a length or lengths thereof, closing devices between which the nippers are adapted to pass, said closing devices adapted to close the nippers upon the movement of the nipper-carrying devices in one direction, means adapted, at the completion of the travel of the nipper devices in one direction, for raising the nippers out of engagement with the closing devices, and thereby permitting said nippers to open in order to release the length or lengths of the material therefrom, and means adapted, at or before the completion of the travel of the nipper-carrying devices in the opposite direction, to lower the nipper carrying devices, and thereby cause the nippers to again pass between the closing devices and thereby close said nippers and cause the same to grasp a length or lengths of the material.

22. In a machine for making twine, the combination of a feed-holder for the material, a

a series of nippers, a separate carrying device for each set of nippers, and means for independently imparting to each nipper-carrying device a combined cu rvilinear back-and-forth motion and up-and-down motion.

23. In a machine for making twine, the combination of means for forcing the material forward,means for bringing the lengths of the too IIO

material close together, compression means adapted to compress the material, after the lengths of said material are brought close to- .gether, and means, after the material is comrial forwardly, a tension-carrying shaft, a tension device carried thereby, a spool or thread-carrying shaft, and means for rotating the spool or thread-carrying shaft in the same direction as the tension-carrying shaft, but at a faster rate of speed than said tension-carrying shaft.

In testimony whereof we affix our signa tnres in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS J. MONAHAN. CONRAD KIEREN,

Witnesses:

A. L. MoRsELL, 0. H. KEENEY, 

